First Estie

After a long line of buying, using, and selling my Parker Vacs (and keeping one good one), I've decided to go somewhere a little less pricey. Esties fit that bill (and the prospect of the nibs) and drew me in. I bought my first Estie on Etsy, a Grey Icicle (I prefer these semi-transparent ones to the marbled plastics). I loved the looks and the ergonomics. It was very light, and fit my average-sized hands well. The only complaint I have is that the Icicle plastic seems to stain badly around the threads, and I thought Waterman Blue-Black was the safest ink a pen could use. Oh well, some things are worth getting used to. The 1554 nib it came with was subpar (the folded tipping was all worn off) and I ground off the little burr remaining and made it an italic. The seller had also included a 1550 nib, which was NOS but quite scratchy. I smoothed it out, to make a nice, smooth, and wet medium writer. I purchased a 9550 posting nib off eBay, but that particular listing was selling nibs of questionable origin, in 9550 boxes. The seller has 30-day free returns, so I'll test it out first.

The pen is very light, looks handsome, and posts very securely. I like the lever filler, its usage is simple and repairs are easy. The ability to quickly swap nib units is awesome, I find myself switching nibs to write with when I refill inks.

What I must praise is the looks, though. It is unassuming, durable (scratches don't show up), and very interesting to use. The Icicle series, as far as I can tell, have stripes running vertically along the pen that are made of translucent plastic. When you hold up the pen to a light, you can see the whole pen glow like a fiber optic wire, although not excessively. Very interesting. Also, PERFECT for day-to-day school use, which is apparently what these pens were marketed to. I like it very much. Just waiting for a new nib to complete the experience now.

And here we go down another money-sucking hole... I'll have to shovel a lot more driveways this year...

Ooh, I love me a smooth relief stub, however, I ground myself a Hebrew/flipped XXXF out of the 1550 nib today. I also managed to plier/cut the 1554 nib until it behaved like a broad, before grinding it to a right foot oblique stub. Both write beautifully, with expression. I'm rather happy with the 1550 nib, I've never done a combo nib until today before.

Ooh, I love me a smooth relief stub, however, I ground myself a Hebrew/flipped XXXF out of the 1550 nib today. I also managed to plier/cut the 1554 nib until it behaved like a broad, before grinding it to a right foot oblique stub. Both write beautifully, with expression. I'm rather happy with the 1550 nib, I've never done a combo nib until today before.

Fantastic! Grinding nibs to one's taste is the most satisfying thing ever. Very well done, indeed!

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